January 2009

The Lancaster Hotel: Small Boutique Hotel Big on Elegance in Downtown Houston

 

Situated in the midst of the Theatre District at the corner of Texas and Louisiana Avenue, the Lancaster Hotel has a charming old style aura of a stately British manor. Built in 1926 as the Auditorium Hotel (the City Auditorium was situated across the street), the renovated building today houses the Lancaster Hotel, the only small boutique hotel in Houston.

If staying at the Lancaster, be sure to strike up a conversation with the Head Doorman, W.K. Hicks. Known for his stellar career as a defensive back in the AFL (now the NFL), he wore #33 for the Houston Oilers in the 1960s and safety the New York Jets in the early 1970s.

Read more of our memorable stay in our feature on the Lancaster Hotel, and look for more unique and historic features.

Houston Special Deals We Recommend:
Discount tickets to nearby Houston attractions - Houston Astros, Houston Symphony, the Grand Opera, and more!

Houston CityPass - Get access to 6 popular attractions for 1 low price! Includes NASA, downtown Aquarium, Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Houston Zoo, plus 2 museums

Contemporary Magnolia Hotel In Historic Houston Landmark

In our continuing series on the best Houston hotels, we feature the Magnolia Hotel.

Built in 1926 as the home of the Houston Post-Dispatch newspaper, accolades go to Magnolia Hotels for preserving this historic building in downtown Houston for guests to enjoy and in further enhancing the special character of the local downtown areas.

The lobby and open areas are designed in a warm art-deco design, with original sculptures and other artwork displayed throughout. The lobby is circular, with attractive hardwood flooring and a free-form metal staircase seen overhead on the 2nd floor. There is lots to do in the immediate area around the Magnolia Hotel, which is within walking distance to the Theatre District, Minute Maid Park, the Downtown Aquarium, and the George R. Brown Convention Center. Read more about our visit in our Magnolia Hotel feature.

Hotel Granduca: a luxury Houston hotel with Italian elegance

The Italian-born real estate developer, Giorgio Borlenghi, created a classic hotel masterpiece in Houston that has an authentic Italian villa style.
His inspiration for the Hotel Granduca was the grand Tuscan palace of Adalberto Malatesta, the Grand Duke of Monfallito in the 16th century.

The hotel includes 126 rooms ranging in size from studios to large 3-bedroom suites for extended stays, and recently joined the prestigious membership of the Leading Hotels of the World.

Read more of our memorable stay in our feature on the Hotel Granduca. Look for more in our best of Houston series.


Houston Special Deals We Recommend:
Discount tickets to nearby Houston attractions - Houston Astros, Houston Symphony, the Grand Opera, and more!

Houston CityPass - Get access to 6 popular attractions for 1 low price! Includes NASA, downtown Aquarium, Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Houston Zoo, plus 2 museums

Our vote for hero of the month: Captain C.B. Sully Sullenberger

Yesterday, a US Airways jetliner with 150 passengers and 5 crew members aboard had to make an emergency landing into the icy waters of the Hudson River less than five minutes after taking off from LaGuardia Airport. Captain C.B. Sully Sullenberger and his crew did an amazing job with the plane in the landing, and all 155 people survived with only a few minor injuries.

We applaud the efforts of Captain Sullenberger. Captain C.B. Sully Sullenberger has a stellar history as a former fighter pilot, a 29-year veteran of US Airways and a father of two.

Hero of the Month: Captain C.B. Sully Sullenberger III

Here is an updated photo showing the US Airways plane being lifted from the murky waters of the Hudson River during a 6+ hour operation.
Note the damage to the nose of the plane, the missing engine, and other damage...

A downton Houston gem: the Hotel Icon

We are working on a new Best of Series. Our first destination is Houston where we head this week.

One of the unique stays that we recommend is the Hotel Icon...

As we made our way through the entrance, we could sense just how special the Hotel Icon is. A massive bank vault sits behind the front desk to remind you of what the building used to be. The renowned BANK Restaurant is housed in subdued lighting amid 30-foot high ceilings supported by Corinthian columns. The city's rich past is being well preserved here in the Historic District on part of the original parcel of land on which the city was founded. Read more in our feature on the Hotel Icon. Look for more and our best of series coming soon.